That night, Dumbledore is sitting at his desk and fingering two objects: Tom Riddle's diary and a golden ring with a black stone at the center.

The pages of the diary are still perfectly intact, despite being stained unnoticeably with ink and that being hidden by the scorch marks on every single page - Bloom's work in their second year.

Her magic burned out the dark magic in the book - which Dumbledore has a very bad feeling about.

There's a knock on his door, and he quickly hides the objects in his desk drawer before saying "Come in."

The door opens, revealing Bloom and Harry.

"Ah, you got my note then?"

Harry says "Yes Professor."

They both eye the Pensieve curiously, and then sit down in the chairs in front of Dumbledore's desk.

"I must say, Bloom, that little surprise of yours was, well, surprising would be an understatement."

Bloom opens her mouth to apologize for saving Sirius's life - again - when Dumbledore moves on.

"So, how are you both? Enjoying your classes?"

They both nod, and Dumbledore says "Professor Slughorn seems most impressed with you, Bloom."

Bloom tucks a piece of hair behind her ear, and says "I think he might be overestimating my Potions-abilities a little, sir. Or maybe a lot. He thinks Harry is good to."

After another minute or so taking an interest in their lives, Dumbledore says "Forgive me, I was just curious. In any event, I'm sure your wondering why I summoned you here. The answer lies here."

He magically opens a cabinet to reveal rows of bottles glowing inside.

There have to be a hundred easily, and Bloom can guess what they are.

"These are memories pertaining to, in this case, one individual: Voldemort. Or, as he was known then, Tom Riddle."

One vial floats up, dusty and veined with age.

"This vial contains a most particular memory, the time I first met him. I'd like you two to see it, if you would."

Bloom nods and grabs the bottle out of the air.

They walk over to the Pensieve and she pours the memory in.

They stick their heads in the liquid, letting their faces break the surface.

They see Dumbledore visit a run-down orphanage, and a woman named Mrs. Cole tells him that Tom is different from other kids - strange things have happened.

Tom is sitting by himself in a dark room while other kids are outside playing.

Mrs. Cole says "You have a visitor, Tom."

Dumbledore greets the 11-year-old Tom, but he doesn't respond other than eying them both for a minute before looking at his hands some more.

Mrs. Cole leaves them alone, and Dumbledore starts looking around the room.

On the dresser or items in sevens - stones, matches, keys, etc. - and then he sees a group of drawings.

On the top is a picture of a seaside cave, but as Dumbledore reaches out a voice says "Don't."

It's Tom's, and Dumbledore turns to find his level gaze on him. He smiles and says "As you wish."

Tom looks away again, and Dumbledore notices his hands for the first time.

They're completely still, splayed out and interlaced with a silky web - and there's a spider going back and forth, spinning more web.

Tom waits for a moment, then asks "You're the doctor, aren't you?"

"No, I'm a professor."

Tom shakes his head, still looking at his hands, and says "I don't believe you. I heard them talking, Mrs. Cole and the other staff. They want me looked at, they think I'm different."

Dumbledore says "Maybe they're right."

Tom automatically says "I'm not mad."

Dumbledore smiles and simply says "Hogwarts is not a place for mad people."

Tom looks up at that, and cocks his head slightly.

"It's a school, a school of magic."

Tom keeps on looking, but doesn't say anything.

"You can do things, can't you Tom? Things other kids can't?"

Tom eyes Dumbledore, intensely, unblinkingly, then takes in a shaky breath and says "Yes."

Dumbledore relaxes just a fraction, and says "Tell me some of the things you can do."

"I can make things move, move them without touching them. I can make animals do what I want right after meeting them. I can do bad things to people who are mean to me. I can make them hurt…if I want to. I don't know how or why I can do it, though!"

Dumbledore studies Tom, who looks up and asks "Who are you? How do you know about me?"

"I'm like you, Tom. Different."

Tom closes his hands, and the web collapses as the spider escapes onto the bed.

"Prove it. It's not a request."

Dumbledore doesn't break his gaze with Tom, and narrows his eyes slightly - and then the wardrobe catches fire.

Tom starts smiling slowly, until the wardrobe starts rattling.

When he cautiously opens in, the shoebox he keeps at the top is shaking violently.

The flames vanish when he touches the box, and Dumbledore has him put anything shouldn't have on the bed.

There's a yo-yo, a silver thimble, and the mouthpiece of an organ.

"Why did you take these thing Tom?"

"I like having things that belonged to other people. It makes me feel…close to them."

Dumbledore says "Thievery is not tolerated at Hogwarts. At Hogwarts, you will be taught to use and control your magic. Understood?"

Tom eagerly nods, and Dumbledore says "Good, I'll be going now. Leave your window open tonight, an owl will bring you a message - read it carefully."

Tom suddenly blurts out, just before Dumbledore can open the door, "I can speak to snakes to."

Dumbledore freezes and looks tense.

"They find me, whisper stuff. Is that normal? For people like us?"

"It is unusual, but not unheard of. Farwell."

Dumbledore leaves without a backward glance, and the image shudders and Harry and Bloom take their heads out of the Pensieve.

Dumbledore says he didn't know he had just met someone who was going to become the most dangerous wizard of all time at that point, and that Tom Riddle had grown extremely close to one professor in particular.

Bloom immediately says "Slughorn. He must've 'collected' Riddle, only for the boy to go bad in the worst way."

"Exactly. This is why I brought Horace back. He possesses something very valuable, but he won't part with it easily."

Dumbledore pauses, and says "I'd rather not divulge any more information right now, but I promise you two will know everything in time."

Harry says "You said Professor Slughorn would try to collect us."

"I did. And he will. I'm sure of it - if he wasn't going to collect Bloom, he most certainly will try now. Harry, you were a given from the beginning - the Boy-Who-Lived as one of his group, and now the girl who can brew a perfect Draught of Living Death on her first try. He will most certainly attempt to collect you."

Bloom asks "Do you want us to let him?"

Dumbledore doesn't hesitate, and says "Yes."

Bloom sighs silently, and Harry grabs her hand in support.

Harry, this is not going to be easy - or particularly pleasant. You can't collect people like they're figurines or something. I really don't like the idea of being 'collected' but…

It'll be fine. At least he isn't like Snape. He seems nice enough anyway.

True, fine.

By the way, how much do you like Quidditch?

AN: Yes, Bloom has a slight thing about Slughorn's way of acting like people are objects or something - it's really kind of getting to her, good thing he's nice enough in general. As for what it is he has, keep reading to find out!